Device For Making Frozen Confections

ABSTRACT

A device for making frozen confections according to the present invention includes a flexible container having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened. The compartments are laterally connected to one another along lines of perforation for selectively separating the compartments from one another. A funnel is connected to the upper ends of the compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when respective ends are open. The upper ends include a zip lock mechanism for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to frozen confections and, moreparticularly, to a device for making frozen confections.

Traditional frozen popsicles (also known as “freezer pops”) have beenenjoyed by many people throughout the years. Frozen popsicles typicallyconsist of fruit juice or flavored water that has been frozen on a stickor in a flexible container for storage in a freezer until a consumer isready to consume it. These confections are typically purchased in thefrozen foods section of a grocery store, transported to a consumer'shome, and stored in a freezer.

Various devices have been proposed in the art that enable a consumer tomake his own frozen popsicle. Although assumably effective for theirintended purposes, the existing devices either include several componentparts that may be easily misplaced or are unable to make multiplepopsicles with efficient speed and in a manner in which they may bestored together yet easily separated when desired.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device for making frozenconfections that minimizes preparation time and minimizes the potentialfor spillage. Further, it would be desirable to have a device for makingfrozen confections that provides for preparation of multiple popsiclesthat may be easily separated when desired. In addition, it would bedesirable to have a device for making frozen confections that does notinclude multiple component parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for making frozen confections according to the presentinvention includes a flexible container having a plurality ofcompartments, each compartment having an upper end that may beselectively sealed and opened. The compartments are laterally connectedto one another along lines of perforation for selectively separating thecompartments from one another. A funnel is connected to the upper endsof the compartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartmentswhen respective ends are open. The upper ends include a zip lockmechanism for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a device formaking frozen confections that includes a flexible bag having aplurality of compartments into which a liquid may be guided and laterfrozen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for makingfrozen confections, as aforesaid, in which the compartments areconnected laterally by lines of perforation for selectively separatingthe compartments when desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for makingfrozen confections, as aforesaid, in which the compartments may beselectively sealed and opened.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for makingfrozen confections, as aforesaid, which includes a funnel forefficiently guiding a liquid into the compartments without spillage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for makingfrozen confections, as aforesaid, that is easy to use and cost-effectiveto manufacturer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration andexample, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for making frozen confectionsaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single compartment separated from thedevice for making frozen confections as in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device for making frozen confections as inFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A device 100 for making frozen confections (e.g., frozen popsicles)according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 of theaccompanying drawings. More particularly, a device 100 according to thecurrent invention includes a container 110 having a plurality ofcompartments 112. Each compartment 112 has an upper end 112 a that maybe selectively sealed and opened.

The container 110 may be flexible and include first and second sheets114 a, 114 b of material (e.g., a flexible plastic) coupled together todefine the plurality of compartments 112. In one embodiment, the firstand second sheets 114 a, 114 b of material are coupled together by aheat sealing process, though other appropriate coupling methods mayadditionally or alternately be used. As shown in FIG. 1, thecompartments 112 may be laterally connected to one another along linesof perforation 115 so that the compartments 112 may be selectivelyseparated from one another. In other words, the first and second sheets114 a, 114 b of material may include lines of perforation 115 and thecompartments 112 may be selectively separable from one another along thelines of perforation 115. It should be understood that the first andsecond sheets 114 a, 114 b may initially be separate from one another oralternately a single sheet that is folded to define the two distinctsheets.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a funnel 120 may be coupled to the upper ends112 a of the plurality of compartments 112 for guiding a liquid intorespective compartments 112 when the upper ends 112 a are open. Thefunnel 120 may be adjacent the upper ends 112 a in various ways. In oneembodiment, the funnel 120 may be constructed separate from thecontainer 110 and attached thereto. In another embodiment, the first andsecond sheets may collectively define the funnel 120.

Means for selectively sealing and opening the upper ends 112 a of theplurality of compartments 112 may be included. More particularly, a ziplock 130 (a type of tongue and groove fastener as shown in FIGS. 1through 3) or another appropriate fastener may be adjacent the upperends 112 a of the plurality of compartments 112 to selectively seal theupper ends 112 a.

In use, a liquid (e.g., a juice or another popsicle mixture) may beintroduced to the compartments 112 through the open upper ends 112 a.The funnel 120 may ease the introduction of the liquid to thecompartments 112 by appropriately directing the flow of the liquid. Oncethe liquid is in the compartments 112, the zip lock 130 may be utilizedto seal the upper ends 112 a of the compartments 112. The device 100 maythen be placed in a cold environment, such as inside a freezer, and theliquid may solidify into popsicles inside the respective compartments112. The compartments 112 may have thin walls to allow the liquid toquickly solidify. The respective compartments 112 may be separated alongthe lines of perforation 115, and the upper ends 112 a may be cut (suchas by a pair of scissors) to allow the user to access the popsicleswithout interference from the funnel 120 (FIG. 2). Once the popsicle iseaten or otherwise removed from a respective compartment 112, thecompartment 112 may be disposed of.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have beenillustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar assuch limitations are included in the following claims and allowablefunctional equivalents thereof.

1. A device for making frozen confections, said device comprising aflexible container having a plurality of compartments, each compartmenthaving an upper end that may be selectively sealed and opened.
 2. Thedevice as in claim 1, wherein said compartments are laterally connectedto one another along lines of perforation for selectively separatingsaid compartments from one another.
 3. The device as in claim 2, furthercomprising a funnel connected to said upper ends of said plurality ofcompartments for guiding a liquid into respective compartments when saidends are open.
 4. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a funnelconnected to said upper ends of said plurality of compartments forguiding a liquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.5. The device as in claim 1, wherein said flexible container includesfirst and second sheets of material coupled together to define saidplurality of compartments.
 6. The device as in claim 5, wherein: saidmaterial includes plastic; and said first and second sheets of plasticare coupled together by a heat sealing process.
 7. The device as inclaim 5, wherein: said first and second sheets of material include linesof perforation; and said compartments are selectively separable from oneanother along said lines of perforation.
 8. The device as in claim 5,further comprising means for selectively sealing and opening said upperends of said plurality of compartments.
 9. The device as in claim 5,wherein said first and second sheets collectively define a funneladjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding aliquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.
 10. Thedevice as in claim 5, further comprising a funnel connected to saidupper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid intorespective compartments when said ends are open.
 11. The device as inclaim 1, further comprising means for selectively sealing and openingsaid upper ends of said plurality of compartments.
 12. The device as inclaim 11, wherein said means includes a zip lock.
 13. A device formaking frozen popsicles, said device comprising: first and second sheetsof material coupled together to collectively define a plurality ofcompartments, each compartment having an upper end that may beselectively sealed and opened; and means for selectively sealing andopening said upper ends of said plurality of compartments.
 14. Thedevice as in claim 13, wherein: said compartments are laterally adjacentone another; said first and second sheets of material include lines ofperforation; and said compartments are selectively separable from oneanother along said lines of perforation.
 15. The device as in claim 13,wherein said first and second sheets collectively define a funneladjacent said upper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding aliquid into respective compartments when said ends are open.
 16. Thedevice as in claim 13, further comprising a funnel connected to saidupper ends of said plurality of compartments for guiding a liquid intorespective compartments when said ends are open.
 17. The device as inclaim 13, wherein: said material includes plastic; and said first andsecond sheets of plastic are coupled together by a heat sealing process.18. The device as in claim 13, wherein said means for selectivelysealing and opening includes a zip lock.
 19. A device for making frozenpopsicles, said device comprising: first and second sheets of flexibleplastic coupled together to collectively define a plurality ofcompartments, each compartment having an upper end that may beselectively sealed and opened; and a zip lock adjacent said upper endsof said plurality of compartments for selectively sealing and openingsaid upper ends of said plurality of compartments.
 20. The device as inclaim 19, further comprising a funnel adjacent said upper ends of saidplurality of compartments for guiding a liquid into respectivecompartments when said ends are open.